New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-11
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
THE DYNAMITE GUN CRUISER.

WHAT THE CONTRACT EEoUIREs-DoUBrs tx
PRESSED REGARDING THE VESSEL AND THE
GUNS.
WASHINGTON. June 10 tspecat.-There Is consider
able speculation among naval officers and Others who
take an interest in the NAVY, respecting the nsw
dynamite gun cruiser, for which contract was made
by Secretary Whitney with the Pneumatic Dynamite
Gun Company Of New-York in February. Rumors
have been circulated to the effect that the gun COM
pany, owing to internal discussions and other CAUSES
is not In condition to carry out its contract Secte-
tary Whitney has beard that the company is having
some trouble with or more OF its engineers but NC
said that he knew of why ii should not ne
able to fulfil its contract 0bil atoms. At any rate ii"
felt easy about the matter inasmuch as the company
had given a bond OF $22C 800, on a contract when
amounts to S350,000 The bondsmen are understood
to be illiam Cramp Son. OF Philadelphia, who arc
to build the vessel She is to be FAC feet long over
all, with extreme breadth Of 26l2 feet ana q
draught of not less than 10 icet She Ia to be bun OF
steel, TO be provided with engines machinery ana
boilers complete, to he fully equipped and armed WIN
three pneumatic dynamite guns OF l0l2 inch caipre
aud to be delivered to the Government complete anu
ready for service The requires that the snip
shall attain a speed OF twenty knots per hour, ana
that her guns shall throw shells containing Zoo
pounds of dynamite other high explosive, at least
mile each gun to be capable OF being discharg1u
in two minutes The contract requires also that
the vessel shall be complete equipped, armed and de-
iyerei to the United States within twelve months OF
the date OF contract about onethrd OF winch period
has already expired.
Experienced shp-builders express doubts as to tho
ability the vessel when completed to attain The re-
CURED speed OF twenty knots an hour even under tho
conditions prescribed for the trial, which are meas
ured mile and smooth water. at the option oil the
contractor course OF ten or twenty miles IN smooth
water. These doubts are shared by n majority Oh
ma officers who have given attention TO the SUBJECT
Considerable doubt is expressed also ms to the enec
tiyeness OF the cruiser she shall ait lin the re-
qui speed and her guns shall have the range pre-
scribed. Tho ordnance officers both OF the Army ana
Navy do not regard the tests TO which the pneumatic
dynamite gun has been subjected as by any means
conclusive and some of them hint that the guns may
fail on the trial he contract requires that the rate
OF firing shall he determined by firing hve ROUNDS
from ca sh gun that the proIcces shall be stea9y
in hight an.. not tumble break up in air oil he
mechanically DESTROYED on impact before explosion
of the charge that accuracy Of range shall DC 40
iermined by firing at least ak shots at target oo ny
100 feet one statute mile distant For this part OF
the trial the vessel may be anchored in smooth water
target Provision must be made TO vary at VIII the
range of the pro;ec,le within the statute mile down 10
900 yards, the target to he used and tile same
percentage OF hits being required.
The trial would not seem To be unduiy severe put
many ordnance officers sceptcal IN regard 10 the
ability of the gans to endure IT, When the contract
was made with the Dynamite Company articles oil
agreement were also signed By which the company
bound itself 10 furnish the United States hereafter
such guns the Government may desire 10 purchase
either Tor sea land service the prices not to exceed
sol 900 each tor eight and one halt inch guns Tor use
on shipboard 2 600 each Tor eight aud one-hali men
guns on carriages $50 900 each for ten an3 one-hs
inch guns for use on shpboard and $1,000 each Tor
ten and one-haii inch movable guns.